TheNewsGuru

Tag: community

  • Name change: Anambra community denies Maduka, say he is a migrant

    Name change: Anambra community denies Maduka, say he is a migrant

    …hence cannot change our ancestral name, heritage

    …storm govt house (Photos)

     

    A group of community indigenes under the aegis of Nkerehi Progressive Union with headquarters at Nkerehi Townhall, in Orumba South council of Anambraon Tuesday stormed the State Governor’s office in Awka in protest for what they described as “attempt by the Hon Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Collins Tony Nwabunwanne to perpetrate illegality in Nkerehi Traditional institution…”

    In their protest letter to the Governor, signed by the President General, Chief Eric Igwike and Secretary General, Joseph Anulobi copy of which was given out to journalists who spoke to them at the gate of the Government House, the community expressed displeasure with the alleged conduct of the Commissioner, “..for dabbling into the Nkerehi, Umuchukwu crisis which has taken a number of lives and properties without living up to his promises to us to formally set up a panel to critically look into the crisis and recommend a lasting solution”.

    According to Anulobi, unfortunately the promise was never kept till date.

    “We were disturbed to learn from grapevine of alleged plans by Nwabunwanne to issue a certificate of Recognition to one Kenny Madu whose lineage was traced to a migrant parentage who came to settle in our midst about three decades ago.

    ” During the visit to the Commissioner on May 10,2022 and our petition dated July 1,2022 provided detailed documented processes with which we collectively elected and presented our Igwe-elect -Chief Mathias Chidozie Anyadiegwu, in January 2020.”

    Delving a little into chronological details of events, Anulobi pointed out that the late traditional ruler(Igwe), Michael Ukaegbu was Dr Godwin Maduka’s direct maternal uncle from same village.

    He argued that it was from all logic immoral for Maduka who was yet to wriggle out of failed attempt to unilaterally change the community’s name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu, to now dabble into foisting his sibling, Kenneth on the community as Igwe of Nkerehi/Umuchukwu.

    The bundle of documents laid out all the stages including some of the court cases, petitions, accusations and denials.

    The wailing community men and women numbering above one hundred who protested at the Anambra Government House bore placards denouncing the Commissioner for Local Government’s alleged attempt at awarding the traditional stool to “an unqualified person”. They cried and literally drew tears from the eyes of passers-bye and observers, as they cried and cried, urging Gov Chukwuma Soludo to intervene.

    Mr Kingsley Nkuma, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor who received them, commended their matured reasoning in coming peacefully to the Governor for him to intervene. He collected their letter of petition, placards and video record of the live oral on-the-spot presentation to be given to the Governor.

    He urged them to remain peaceful, that once the materials gets to the Governor he would intervene.

  • Murder of 35-year-old lady: Ebonyi community joins police to unmask killers

    Murder of 35-year-old lady: Ebonyi community joins police to unmask killers

    The Anike Community in Onicha Igboeze of Ebonyi has pledged to assist the police in their investigation to unmask the killers of 35-year-old lady native, Miss Nnenna Onu.

    The Chairman of the community, Mr Phillip Nwankwo, made the pledge while reacting to the gruesome murder of the lady by yet-to-be identified assailants.

    Speaking in an interview with NAN in Abakiliki on Sunday, Nwankwor described the incident as barbaric.

    He called on the people of the community to join hands with the police and other relevant security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the crime from the community.

    He said: “The act is purely an evil against our community and we condemn it in totality.

    “On our side as a community, we have already made a pronouncement and incantations against the persons that have hand in the killing of our daughter.

    “We believe and hope that our tradition will not allow them to go unpunished.

    “I promise that I am ready to support the police in finding the killers.”

    Meanwhile, the Ebonyi Police Command said it had commenced investigations into the incident, which happened on Dec. 23, 2021.

    The command’s Spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah, said the police investigating team had visited the scene but no arrest had so far been made.

    “The police have commenced clinical investigation into the matter.

    “What delayed the investigation and arrest before now was that the family failed to make official report to the command when the incident happened.

    “Well, the family told us that the failure to report the matter on time was due to the threats to them by their relatives should they report to the police.

    “Right now, we are on top of the matter and the Police Commissioner, Mr Aliyu Garba, has pledged to get to its root.

    “We have visited the scene and we will continue to follow up until the perpetrators are brought to book,” Odah said.

    Recall that Nnenna, a graduate of Public Administration, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, was murdered in her Amagu Village, Ndiagu-Anike, Onicha Igboeze, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

    Her assailants severed her left leg from her body before setting her and her belongings ablaze behind her late father’s house.
    She reportedly burned beyond recognition.

    Also in an interview, the deceased younger sister, Mrs Juliet Onu, appealed to Gov. Dave Umahi and all the security agencies in the state to help her family to apprehend Nnenna’s killers and bring them to justice.

    Narrating the circumstances surrounding Nnenna’s death, Juliet feared that she could have been murdered over her efforts to recover their family inheritance after their father’s death.

    Juliet alleged that their inheritance was taken away after the death of their father many years ago, followed by the “mysterious death” of all their male siblings.

    “After the death of our father and brothers, Nnenna and I have been struggling to survive with our poor mother.

    “When I got married, I left, leaving Nnenna alone with our mother.

    “Today, my mother cannot go to farm because she has been deprived from ownership of any property after our father’s death.

    “Now, she cannot go to the village because they do not want her alive.

    “She has been living with me and my husband in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    “We were expecting her to visit us during the Christmas celebration but we did not see her.

    “On Christmas day, my husband travelled to the village to check on her only to find out that she had been murdered.

    “We want justice for our family, especially my mother, who is a widow.

    “We also call on religious leaders, civil society organisations and well-meaning individuals for assistance,” Juliet said.

  • Herdsmen kill three persons in Ondo, set community ablaze

    Herdsmen kill three persons in Ondo, set community ablaze

    Three persons have been feared dead in Ondo State following an attack on a community in Ose Local Government Area of the State.

    The community, Molege village was said to have been attacked by herders over the refusal of villagers to allow herdsmen graze on farmlands in the community with their cows.

    The herders reportedly mobilised and set the village and the farms on fire leaving villagers fleeing their homes and scampering for safety.

    Reacting to the incident, Commander Amotekun, Chief Adeleye Adetunji, said normalcy has been restored to the community.

    Adetunji added that while his men were on their way to the village, the attackers opened fire on the Amotekun operatives.

    “We are trying to find out who they are as an adequate investigation is ongoing. We urge the people of the community to come back to their homes as peace has returned to the village.

    Adetunji was however silence on the casualties recorded during the forceful invasion of the village by the attackers.

  • Gunmen attack Imo community, kill two, destroy properties

    Gunmen attack Imo community, kill two, destroy properties

    Gunmen have killed at least two persons when they stormed Etekwuru autonomous community in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State around 4am on Wednesday.

    The invaders also destroyed properties and left some villagers injured before leaving the area.

    The reason for the attack had yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report but our correspondent gathered that the community is currently in a state of panic.

    The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Kenneth Okereke, who confirmed the attack on Wednesday morning, called on security agents to come to the rescue of his subjects.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that some gunmen had on October 21 burnt the palace and official vehicle of the traditional of the community when they invaded his home in an attempt to kill him.

    The attack on the palace of the traditional ruler came two days after some hoodlums and military men clashed in the community, leading to the killing of two soliders and youths.

    The monarch who wrote a letter to the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, requesting help, disclosed that he was on exile owing to the destruction of his palace.

     

  • Fresh killings: Community takes victims’ corpses to Plateau Government House, Assembly

    Fresh killings: Community takes victims’ corpses to Plateau Government House, Assembly

    The Speaker, Plateau House of Assembly, Abok Ayuba,has called for calm and restraint over Tuesday’s attack on Yelwa Zangam community in the state by gunmen.
    Abok made the call when members of the Yelwa Zangam community took corpses of their loved ones killed in the attack, to the Assembly.
    Yelwa Zangam, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state was attacked by hoodlums on Tuesday night during which 35 people were reportedly killed.
    Members of the community cried to the assembly and urged it to liaise with other arms of government to tackle the menace.
    Abok, who condoled with the families of the victims, appealed to them not take laws into their hands, saying that such act would only aggravate the already bad situation.
    “We are all affected by what is happening in Plateau, but please, calm down as government is doing everything possible to end the killings.
    “We are your representatives, we are going to follow up with relevant authorities to ensure that peace returns to the state,” he said.
    The mourners later took the corpses to Government House, Jos.
    Meanwhile, news of the attack threw Jos into confusion as people scampered for safety.
    The situation also resulted to serious traffic gridlock in the city as many people fled to their houses for cover.
  • Three killed as suspected herdsmen storm Ogun community

    Three killed as suspected herdsmen storm Ogun community

    Unknown number of herdsmen on Friday night invaded Igbooro, Oja-Odan in the Yewa-North Local Government area of Ogun State, killing three and injuring two villagers.

    The prowling herdsmen reportedly invaded the village, closed to Eggua in Oja-Odan around 11 pm on Friday, shot extensively, and set ablaze three houses and storehouses in the village.

    A mother and her child were among the three persons killed in their huts while two persons were said to be in critical conditions after they were shot by the herdsmen.

    It was also learnt that many people, including children, sustained varying degrees of injuries.

    The attack came barely 24 hours after five persons were killed in Owode Ketu, Ogun State.

    Confirming the sad incident, Baale of Igbooro, Abidemi Akorede, said he had counted three corpses as of the time of speaking.

    Akorede said two villagers, a man, and a woman have been rushed to a nearby hospital after they sustained gunshots injuries.

    The village head said, “Some Fulani herdsmen invaded our village last night. As they arrived, they set ablaze some houses and started shooting sporadically, they macheted a child to death where he hid.

    “They hacked a mother and her child to death. I have counted three corpses, two have been rushed to the hospital, they are in critical condition after they were shot.

    “They did not come with their cattle for grazing. They just stormed the village, killed people, and destroyed a lot of property.

    “Three houses were set ablaze and one commercial bus. Silos were also burnt with the grains, he told Punch

     

  • Anambra community protests against attempt to impose traditional ruler

    Anambra community protests against attempt to impose traditional ruler

    The people of Awa Town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra has urged Gov. Willie Obiano to save the community from an impending crisis over an attempt to impose a traditional ruler on them.

    The people, on Wednesday at the Government House, Awka, cried out against the proposed traditional ruler election slated for Feb. 13.

    The protesters bore placards with varying inscriptions ‘Awa Is On Fire’, ‘Gov Obiano We Need Your Intervention In Awa Now’ and ‘Your Excellency Sack Vera Queen’.

    Others were ‘Awa Community Says No To Feb. 13 Election’, Your Excellency Awa Community Is Boiling’ and “Hon Emeka Aforka Should Leave Awa Alone“, among others.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chief Ambrose Egwuonwu, an elder in the community, said ascendancy to the traditional stool was hereditary and not open to the entire community or election.

    Egwuonwu said Awa was a small and peaceful community but wondered why some influential people would want to throw the community into a perpetual crisis.

    He said the government should intervene and stop the election from going on because it was not a decision of the majority in view of the fact that every issue surrounding the emergence of a new traditional ruler had yet to be addressed.

    Chief Paul Nwafor, a former President-General of the community, said they were told to prepare for an election on Feb. 13 based on a letter from government “a copy of which we have not seen.’’.

    Nwafor said the community needed a traditional ruler but it must follow due process.

    He said it was the duty of the community to elect a traditional ruler and not for the government to impose anyone, adding that there was unhealthy political undertone behind the desperate effort to conduct an election in Awa.

    Responding, Mr Henry Nwasike, the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Town Union Affairs, said that the protesters grievances were well noted.

    Nwasike, who spoke on behalf of the commissioner, said the administration of Gov. Obiano would do all that was necessarily to ensure that there was peace in every community.

    He said government did not conduct traditional ruler election for community but supervised it, assuring that their grievances would be communicated to the appropriate authorities.

    Dr Ray Ofor, President-General of Awa, said the protesters had contradicted themselves by claiming they were not aware of the election notice but had gone ahead to protest against it.

    Ofor, however, said they were waiting for further directive based on government’s reaction to the protest on whether to proceed with the election.

  • Eight murdered as bandits attack Zamfara community

    Eight murdered as bandits attack Zamfara community

    The Zamfara State Police Command regrettably confirm the demise of eight people in an attack by suspected armed bandits on Janbako Community of Maradun LGA in the early hours of Sunday

    In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu said the bandits launched a violent reprisal attack on the said community following the invasion of a Fulani settlement that led to the gruesome killing of three of the Fulanis by the outlawed “Yansakai” group.

    “On the receipt of the report, the Command quickly responded and deployed a Combine team of PMP/CTU led by the DPO Maradun and the Military who moved down to the village and engaged the bandits who quickly fled and escaped into the forest with possible casualties”.

    “At the end of the encounter, eight Villagers were unfortunately discovered to have been killed by the bandits during the attack.

    “Corpse of the deceased and those injured were taken to the hospital in Talata Mafara for autopsy and medical treatment”.

    Shehu said the attack on Janbako Community was aggravated by the continued operation of members of the outlawed “Yansakai” group despite its proscription by the state government.

    He said that the outlawed group was still being a nuisance to the peaceful stability of Zamfara State.

    The Commissioner of Police Zamfara State, CP Abutu Yaro, while commiserating with the families of the deceased also assured that discreet investigation would be conducted with a view to arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act and charge them to court for prosecution.

    The police commissioner further called on members of the public to desist from self-help, adding that he would not hesitate to deal decisively with any person or group of persons whose action or actions vitiates the relative peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

     

  • Soldiers deployed to communities near Abuja airport

    Soldiers deployed to communities near Abuja airport

    Soldiers and policemen have mounted checkpoints around some communities near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    This was apparently to forestall the breakdown of law and order as the protests against the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force continues.

    The security officers mounted checkpoints around Kuje, Soka, and parts of Lugbe which are communities adjoining the Shehu Yar’Adua Expressway leading to the Abuja airport.
  • Going back home – Francis Ewherido

    Going back home – Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    About five years ago, the former editor of The Guardian, Abraham Ogbodo, told me he would return to his village once he retired from The Guardian. Retire to the village in your 50s? What will you be doing? Not many people do that, especially in Urhobo Land. I did not take him seriously.

    In those days, I remembered that some people who retired and relocated home died not long after and, of course, the predominant story then was that their relatives, who were witches and wizards, donated them in their coven. They were killed, cooked and eaten in the coven (please don’t ask me how). It did not matter that their deaths could just have been as a result of a change of environment or disruption in the routine the body was accustomed to for decades. So, I was wondering what Ogbodo would do to keep busy after over 30 years of active working life.

    Ogbodo kept to his words, he has since relocated to his hometown, Agbarha-Otor. His reasons for coming home were compelling. He wanted to engage in advocacy and community engagement. He felt the youths needed a new paradigm. Many of those they saw back home were people, who had nothing yesterday, and a year later, had palatial houses and fleet of cars. Consequently, many of the youths want to be politicians or yahoo-yahoo boys. Ogbodo wants to inculcate in them the virtues of patience and hard work; he wants them to learn that life is like a building, you lay one block at a time. He wants them to discover their purpose and spend the rest of their lives living it happily. He is still on the matter.

    When we spoke 10 days ago, he talked about the need for more interventions: He wants more prominent sons of Urhobo to come home to invest. He wants people to set up enduring businesses with good fundamentals and strong corporate governance, so that the businesses can outlive the founders. He wants partnerships, based on integrity and shared vision, so that the institutions can endure. The partnerships will also enable each partner to punch far above what s/he could have done individually.

    Last Thursday, Ogbodo’s words reverberated in my mind as I beheld a spectacle in Ovwodokpokpor-Olomu, Delta State. It was the grand opening of a resort and farms. The ultra-modern resort in the heart of a rural setting creates a pleasant contrast that inspires hope. It is a reality made possible by an audacious and courageous spirit; a product of a very creative mind. The venture is a stroll in a rural terrain where even angels would have a rethink before treading (some people have questioned the viability of such a project in a rural setting).

    Before Ogbodo relocated back home, an older friend, Olorogun Jacob Diedjomahor, did. After over 30 years spent mainly in Lagos and America, he retired as the exploration manager of one of the top three oil companies in Nigeria. Then he came home to start farming on a very large scale. About two years ago, he started this multimillion naira resort on a 50-acre land in his village, Ovwodokpokpor-Olomu. The grand opening was what took me to Ovwodokpokpor. It is an unbelievable sight and a massive upgrade for the community. Life will never be the same in Ovwodokpokpor.

    As I beheld the blend of nature and modernity, I thought of what will happen in Urhobo Land, Delta State and Nigeria, if at least one prominent son or daughter of each village came back home to set up a business that can bring some macro and micro economic transformation to his/her village? As if others were reading my thoughts, speaker after speaker (Ohworode of Olomu, HRM Richard Ogbon-Oghoro 1, Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire, Chairman of NSITF; VME Emmanuel Evue, Olorogun Edoreh Agbah, Engr. Alex Neyin and Engr. Mike Orugbo) spoke along the same line. More investments will bring down the crime rate and improve the standard of living, but most importantly, the young ones in the villages will have new sources of inspiration.

    There are many Urhobo sons and daughters outside Urhobo Land, who want to come home to contribute their bit towards making their homeland a better place, but do not feel encouraged by what they see. The issue has gone beyond the fear of witches and wizards. There is a lot of insecurity. One of the speakers spoke about how he abandoned a similar project in his village due to insecurity. Also, some people, who went home to set up businesses in the past were kidnapped. Some regained their freedom and a few unfortunate ones lost their lives. One of the speakers was kidnapped twice in his own local government, but he remains a homeboy due to his love for his people. There was also a man, who came back from the United States to start a business. He was intimidated, harassed, beaten up and illegally detained with trumped up charges by his own people. He lost millions of naira. He has gone back to the US. Will he come back? Time will tell.

    Sometimes, the problems come from the immediate families. Your brother, cousin or uncle abroad sends you money to buy a plot of land or build a house for him; you divert the money to personal use. Then, when he asks for progress report, you take photos of other construction sites and send to him. There was a story of one of such people, who came back to Nigeria to see his new property. In an attempt to cover up, the culprit murdered him. I cannot remember the part of Nigeria where this happened.
    In our discussions, I have asked Ogbodo about some of the concerns of these people. He feels that people should not wait for the weather to be clear before heading to the farm. He also feels that if everyone shies away, who would change the narrative. All the speakers last Thursday shared the same sentiments. That is why people like Diedjomahor are back home. In the large gathering of people at the opening of the resort on Thursday, the seed of coming back to do something in their communities may have been sown in some of them. This is just inevitable, seeing the splendour of the resort and how it has changed the narrative of Ovwodokpokpor.

    But I strongly feel that the kings and the presidents-general of the various kingdoms in Urhobo Land still have a lot to do. The development of a community should be understood to be what it is: deliberate human and physical capacity building. Deve or any form of extortion is a disincentive and should not be tolerated. It is deve that partly crippled Uvwie (Effurun) economy because it led to the exodus of many oil and oil servicing companies. The economy of Uvwie is yet to recover from the exodus. All hands must therefore be on deck to create an enabling environment for those who want to come home to develop their communities.